Importance Score: 7 / 100 🟠
Owl Becomes Social Media Sensation After Chimney Rescue in US Home
A barred owl has rapidly gained social media attention after becoming trapped inside a fireplace chimney at a residence in the United States. This feathered creature’s unexpected predicament and subsequent rescue captivated online audiences.
Dramatic Owl Rescue Captured on Video
A video documenting the owl rescue operation, shared on TikTok by Aaron Monke, showcased the efforts to extricate the large bird of prey from his parents’ home chimney in Minnesota. Monke’s post accompanying the footage explained, “A big owl fell into my parents’ chimney and got rescued this morning.”
During the delicate rescue, a specialist from the Wildlife Intensive and Critical Care Unit (WICCU) carefully handled the owl, guiding it to safety. The bird’s loud hoots – potentially expressing fear or relief – echoed as it was placed in a cardboard container. The box was prepared for transporting the owl to a safer location for a health assessment.
Viral Video Sparks Amused Reactions
The video quickly went viral, accumulating over 2.7 million views within five days. Social media users reacted humorously to the owl’s situation. One commenter playfully asked, “But did he deliver the Hogwarts letter?”. Aaron responded, “Didn’t see one. We think it’s a female building a nest. Its mate was waiting at the stack and didn’t leave till they brought her back a few hours later,” suggesting the owl’s presence could be related to nesting behavior.
Further illustrating the online buzz, another viewer initially mistook the owl’s vocalizations for human screams, commenting: “I thought the lady was screaming… Then I realized it was the owl.” Conversely, another commenter observed the owl’s calm disposition, stating: “He was actually pretty chill considering what was happening. They are extremely intelligent and I think they sense when people are just trying to help them,” highlighting the perceived intelligence of owls.
Social Media Users Praise Owl Rescue
Other social media reactions included lighthearted remarks about the owl’s ordeal. One TikTok user joked, “From being stuck in a chimney to being stuck in a baby wipes box, what an adventure.” Another commended the rescue efforts, writing, “Wow! Incredible! Beautiful owl and she handled it so so well. Amazing.” Numerous commenters identified the bird as a barred owl, a species native to North America, also known as the northern barred owl or striped owl.
Wildlife Unit’s Role in Animal Welfare
The Wildlife Intensive Care Unit (WICCU), instrumental in the owl rescue, describes itself on its website as a “non-profit organization that provides assistance to Minnesota’s wildlife.” WICCU’s mission involves “**wildlife rescues**, admitting injured and orphaned wildlife while providing medical support and nursing care during an animal’s rehabilitation process”. The organization further states its goal is for “the patient to be released back into the wild after recovering from the trauma or abandonment they had endured,” emphasizing their commitment to animal rehabilitation and public education.